Container cleaning machine



Oct. 2, 1945. Q EVERETT v. r 2,386,043

v CONTAINER CLEANING MACHINE Y Original F iled May 27, 1942 4 shgets-sheet 1 Q J INVENTOR.

WM; 81w m fl.Jv'n-B. @lwhcL-u Oct. 2, 1945.

A. C. EVERETT CONTAINER CLEANING MACHINE Original Filed May 27, 1942 A. c. EVERETT C CONTAINER CLEANING MACHINE 4 sheets-sheet 5 Original Filed May 27, 1942 mm: a

INVENTOR m. w a. CAM 1mm am 1945. A. c. EV-ERETT 2,386,043

' CONTAINER CLEANING MACHINE Original Filed May 27, 1942 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 BY Q Patented Oct. 2, 1945 I CONTAINER CLEANING MACHINE Arthur Clarence Everett, Boston, Mass, assignor to Pneumatic Scale Corporation, Limited; Quincy, Mass, a corporation of Massachusetts Original application May 27, 1942, Serial No.

444,612. Divided and this application September 29, 1943, Serial No. 504,289

4 Claims. (Cl. 198-25) A This invention relates to a container cleaning ally arranged cleaning nozzles l2 and a plurality machine and more particularly to a machine for of pivotally mounted container suppo t ng m mpneumatically cleaning bottles or other containbers l4 arranged to receive and discharge containers in avertical or upright position with rela- One object of the invention is to provide a 5 tion to the carrier to and adapted to bemoved to novel and improved container cleaning machine present the containers intoradial alignment with of the type having a r t ry Container s ppo ting their respective cleaning nozzles during the conmember capable of moving the container from an tinuous rotation of the carrier I 0. The containupright to an inverted positionin which provision ers 16 to be cleaned are supplied to the machine is made for enabling the rotary supporting mem- 0 by a conveyor belt 18 which, as herein w her to receive and discharge the containers in an may be extended to also receive and convey the upright position during the continuous operation cleaned containers being discharged from the maof the machine. v chine. As best shown in Fig; 2 the conveyor belt With this general object in view and such oth- I8 is arranged to run over sprockets 2U, 22 and is ers as may hereinafter appear, the invention conarranged to be driven through connections from sists in the machine for cleaning containers and the main drivingmotor 24 including a belt conin the various structures, arrangements and com- 'nection 26 to a shaft 28, speed reduction unit 30, binations of parts hereinafter described and parand a sprocket and chain connection 32 to the ticularly defined in the claims at the end of this i sprocket shaft 34. As shown in Fig. 1,. the motor specification. 24 is ounted on a sliding base arranged tobe In the drawings illustrating the preferred emmanually adjusted by a handwheel 2'! to mainbodiment of the invention, Fig. 1 is a, side elevatain the belt connection 26 in a taut condition. tion of a container cleaning machine embodying Provision is made for controlling the feed of the present invention, some of the parts being the containers whereby to present successive conbroken away and the underlying parts being 25 tainers in position to be received by their respecshown in cross section; Fig. 2 is a front elevation tive supporting'members .l4 in timed relation to of the lower portion of the machine shown in Fig. the movement of the rotary carrier. As illus- 1; Fig. 3 is a plan View of the lower portion of the trated in Figs. 1, 2 and 3 the containersv bein machine as viewed from the line 3-3 in Fig. 2; conveyed by the belt l8 are arranged to be transand Fig. 4 is a front elevation, partly in cross secferred therefrom by a rotary container feeding tion, showing the mechanism for effecting horimechanism, indicated generally at 36, which is zontal movement of the container supporting provided with a plurality of pusher fingers 38 brackets. adapted to engage the rear surface of successive In general, the present inventioncontemplates containers and to advance the containers between an improvement in a container cleaning machine spaced flanges 40 of a rotary member 42 and cirof the type illustrated anddescribed in the U. S. cular cutouts 44 of spaced guide rails 46 to con- Patent to Everett, No. 2,176,126, dated October 17, secutively present the containers to a position to 1939- be received by their respective supporting mem- One feature of the present invention contembers l4. plates novel container intake and discharge mech- 40 The rotary member 42 is fast on a hollow shaft anisms by which the containers may be received 48 rotatably mounted on. a vertical stationary by and discharged from the rotary supporting shaft 50, and the pusher fingers 38 are pivotally member in a vertical position. The improved inmounted between the spaced flanges 40 of the rotake and discharge mechanism preferably intary m b as es ShO i 2 The eludes carrier members mounted on a rotary carpivotal fingers 38 are fast upon pins 52 journaled rier capable of movement in a vertical position in the spaced flanges 4 and provision i m with relation to the rotary carrier as they pass i for rocking the fingers 38 from their extended the intake and discharge positions, and capable of position to a retracted position when the container movement into a radially aligned position with has been advanced onto an individual supporting the cleaning mechanism for the remainder of the member I4 being carried past the same. As illusrotary movement of the rotary carrier. trated in Fig. 3, the retracting movement of the Referring now to the drawings which illustrate fin s 38 is efiected by a stationary cam 54 fast the preferred embodiment of the invention, the on the upper end of the vertical shaft 50. Each present container cleaning machine includesaropusher finger is provided with a cam lever 56 tary carrier 10 provided with a plurality of radiwhich carries a cam roll 58 arrang to Cooperate with the cam 54 during the rotation of the feeding member. Each finger is also provided with a spring 68 arranged to hold its cam roll in coopa chain 68 to a, sprocket I8 secured to a hollow shaft or bushing I2 rotatably mounted on a vertical shaft I4. The bushing I2 extends through the frame member I6 and is provided at its lower end with a flanged member I8 forming part of a separabl driving mechanism normally engaged but which is adapted to slip out of operative engagement in the event that the feeding mechanism should encounter abnormal resistance. The flanged member I8 is provided with a notch 88 which is adapted to be engaged by a tooth 82 provided on a disk 84 rotatable with but vertically slidable upon the shaft I4. A coil spring 86 normally holds the disk 84 in operative engagement to drive the shaft I4 but if 'a jam occurs, the tooth 82 will slip out of the notch 88 and lower the disk'against the resistance of the spring 86. The upper end of the vertical shaft I4 is provided with a gear 88 which meshes with a gear 88 fast on the hollow shaft 48 upon which the rotary member 42 is mounted. Thus in the operation of the machine the rotary feeding mechanism 36 is rotated at a uniform rate of speed in timed relation to the movement of the rotary carrier I8.

In the operation of the machine, the containers are-carried along the conveyer I8 in contiguous relation and in order to register successive containers with the container engaging fingers 38 provision is made for engaging and releasing successive foremost containers in timed relation to the movement of the rotary feeding mechanism 36. As herein shown, astar wheel 82 is rotatably mounted adjacent the conveyer and is provided with a plurality of equally spaced teeth 94 arranged to enter between successive containers as they are delivered and to release such containers in timed relation to the arrival of the container pusher fingers 38.

The star wheel 92 is arranged to be driven continuously and in timed relation to the feeding mechanism 36 through connections from a second sprocket 96. formed integrally with the sprocket I8. The sprocket 96 is connected by a 7 chain 98 to a sprocket I88 fast on a vertical shaft I82. Asecond sprocketIM fast on the shaft I82 is connected by a chain I86 to a sprocket I88 secured to a shaft H8. The shaft H8 is connected by bevel gears H2, 4 to a shaft II6 which is connected by a chain and sprocket drive II8 to an'elongated shaft I28. The forward end ofthe shaft I28 is connected by bevel gears I22, I24 to a vertical shaft I26 upon which the star wheel 92 is securely mounted. As best shown in Fig. 3, a separable driving connection, indicated generally at I28, may be provided in thedrive to the star wheel in order to prevent damage thereto in the-event of a jam.

From the description thus far it will be observed that the containers are transferred consecutively from the belt I8 into a position to be received by their respective supporting units I4 on the carrier I8, and, as best shown in Figs. 1 and 2, during the transferring operation the containers are moved from the belt I8 across a stationary platform I38 and then onto their respective supporting and elevating brackets I32 forming part of the supporting units I4. Provision is made for maintaining the horizontally extended portion I 34 of the brackets flush with the stationary platform I38 during the transferring operation, as will be hereinafter described, and during the operation of the machine the relative movement of the continuously rotated feeding mechanism 38 and the continuously moving carrier I8 is such that a container is advanced into a central position onthe portion I34 whereupon the pusher finger 38 is retracted, as above described. As illustrated in Fig. 1, each supporting bracket I32 is attached to a member I36 ad-justably secured to a cam rod I38. Th rod I38 is slidingly mounted in a housing I48 pivotally carried by a. rotatable spider I42. A compression spring I44 interposed between a shoulder on the upper portion of the cam rod I38 and the bottom of the housing I48 is arranged to elevate the supporting bracket I32 to present the mouth of the bottle into engagement with a guide member I46 attached to the pivotally carried housing I48. The movements of the cam rod I38 and'the bottle elevating member I 32 are controlled by a stationary cam I48 which cooperates with a cam roll 7 I58 provided n the upper end of each cam rod.

As best shown in Fig. 4, the cam I48 is designed to maintain the elevating member I32 flush with the stationary platform I38 during its movement past the container receiving station, and thereend of the elongated sleeve I66.

after th cam roll leaves the cam to permit the spring I 44 to elevate the container into engagement with the guide member I46, as above described.

As herein shown, each housing I 48, which arries the elevating member I 32 and the guide member I46, is pivotally mounted on a pin I52 carried in the rotary spider I42. Provision is made for maintaining the container supporting units I4 'in a vertical position with relation to-the carrier 18 during the movement of the units past the receiving and discharging stations, and for rocking the pivotally mounted units into radial alignment with their respective cleaningnozzles I2 after-leaving the receiving station. This movement is effected by a stationary cam I58 which is arranged to cooperate with a roller I68 carried by an arm I 62 extending from and formed integrally with the housing I 48. The cam I58 is bolted to a flanged portion of a stationary supporting member I88. The cam is designed to hold the housing I48 and the parts carried thereby in a radial position until the units approach the discharge station whereupon the housing is again rocked to present the container in a vertical and upright position.

Referring now to Fig. 1, as therein shown, the spider I42 is bolted to a flange I64 formed at one end of an elongated hollow shaft or sleeve I66 arranged to. be rotated through connections from the vertical shaft I82. A bevel gear I68 secured to the upper end of the vertical shaft is arranged to mesh with a bevel gear I18 fast on a short intermediate shaft I12 which is also provided with a sprocket I14 connected by a chain I I6 to a large sprocket I18 keyed to the other The hollow sleeve I66 is rotated in bearings in the supporting member I88 which is attached to a slide member I82 arranged to slide vertically in suit-. able guideways I84 formed in an upright I83 forming part of the machine frame. The entire carrier unit is thus vertically adjustable to adapt the machine for operation uponrcontainerscof various heights. The position of the supporting member l8!) and the parts carried thereby is adjustably regulated by a handwheel H88 connected by bevel gears [90, W2 to a vertical threaded rod i914 which is received in a threaded portion I93 of a bracket I98 attached to the supporting member l8il, as best shown in Fig. 1. The vertical driving shaft 182 may be axially movable in the drive sprockets use, H34 and arranged to be rotated therewith in any usual or preferred manner in order to adapt the driving connections to the adjusted positions. V

From the description thus far it will be observed that during the operation of the machine, the rotary spider M2 is continuously rotated and that the containers positioned on the supporting units M are elevated into engagement with guide members I46 whereupon the supporting units are rocked into alignment with their respective cleaning nozzles l2. As the carrier is rotated the containers are turned into an inverted position during which time the cleaning operation is performed.

In the operation of the cleaning mechanism the nozzles l2 are arranged to be moved from a fully withdrawn position to a fully inserted position. and provision is made for releasinga stream of air through the nozzles when they are in their extended position and during the time when the containers are in a substantially inverted position to perform the cleaning operation. Provision is also made for receiving and carrying away the dust laden air being discharged into the atmosphere from the mouth of the container dur ing the rotation thereof with the carrier units l4. Since the present invention is directed more particularly to the transfer mechanism, reference is made to my cop-ending application Serial No. 444,612, filed May 27, 1942, which has issued as Patent No. 2,354,308, for a more complete de- E scription of the structure and mode of operation of the cleaning mechanism.

As above described the pivotally mounted container supporting units [4 of the cleaning mechanism are arranged to be maintained in a vertical position as they pass the receiving and discharging stations to present the platforms I34 of the supporting units in a horizontal position and substantially flush with the stationary plate It!) as they pass thereby. In the operation of the transfer mechanism, the continuously moving fingers 38, traveling at a uniform rate of speed during the transferring operation, operate to push a container off the stationary platform I30 onto an advancing horizontally moving platform I34, and as the container and the platform are advanced, the container is centered on the latter by a finger 38 at the time the unit [4 comes into alignment with a center-line passing through the transfer mechanism 36.

Although the rotary carrier I is traveling continuously at a uniform rate of speed, and the transfer fingers 38 are likewise arranged to travel continuously at a uniform rate of speed during the transferring operation, the relative movement is such that the container supporting units l4 travel at a slower speed than the containers being advanced by the fingers because of the fact that the supporting units are caused to travel through a horizontal plane as they pass the transfer mechanism. Thus, in operation, the fingers 38 continue to advance the containers while they are supported upon the slower moving platforms 134 until the containers assume a central' position thereon, as above described. However, if the fingers. 38' were permitted to continue atithe'. same uniform rate of speed after a container hasbeen centrally placedupon a platform I34, it will be seen that continued rotation of mechanism. As the container is advanced with its supporting unit [4, the finger 38 follows along out of engagement with the container. Thereafter, the cam 54 effects extension of the finger 3 8 into normal position to engage the next container in the line and to subsequently transfer it to a supporting unit It.

After receiving a container in a central position, the supporting unit [4 is elevated to present the mouth of the container into engagement with its guide member M6 and rocked into alignment with a. cleaning nozzle l2, as above described.

Provision is made for removing the cleaned containers. from the supporting members l4 during the continuous movement of thelatter when they arrive at the discharge station, indicated generally at 28B, and for transferring the containers back onto the conveyer belt [8. As above described, the cam I58 operates to rock each unit I4 from a radial position to a vertical position with relation to the carrier unit H) as the supporting units approach the discharge station. The containers being thus carried are brought into engagement with the discharge portion 282 of the stationary guide rail 45 and into. thepath of a continuously rotated toothed wheel 284 arranged to transfer successive containers from the travelling platform 1.34 across, the stationary platform I30, and then onto the continuously travelling conveyer belt 18, as shown in Fig. 3.

The toothed member 284, as illustrated inFig. 3, is arranged to be continuously rotated in timed relation to the movement of the carrier unit Ill by the gear 88 which is arranged to mesh with a gear 304 fast on the lower end of a vertical shaft 306 upon the upper end of which the toothed member is mounted. Thus successive cleaned containers are transferred into the discharge end of the conveyer belt [8 to be carried away from the machine.

From the above description it will be observed that the present construction of container cleaning machine enables the continuously rotating container supporting and cleaning unit to receive and discharge successive containers from spaced points on the rotary unit with the containers disposed in an upright vertical position, thus providing a smoothly operating and efiicient transferring mechanism capable of operation at a relatively high rate of speed.

While the preferred embodiment of the invention has been herein illustrated and described, it will be understood that the invention may be embodied in other forms within the scope of the following claims.

This application is a division of my copending application Serial No. 444,612, filed May 27, 1942, which has issued as Patent No. 2,354,308, July 25, 1944.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimedfisz 1. In combination, a continuously rotating carrier rotated in a vertical plane and having a plurality of individual radially mounted container holding members capable of movement with respect to the carrier, means for causing the holding members to travel in a substantially horizontal direction for a substantial distance beyond a vertical line passing'through the center of said carrier, said holding members being disposed in a non-radial position during such horizontal movement, a supply conveyer, and a transfer device comprising a rotary member having a plurality of extended pusher fingers, said fingers operating to position a container on a horizontally moving holding member at a point spaced a substantial distance beyond said vertical line,' and means for retracting said fingers after the container has been moved into a predetermined position with respect to the holding member.

2. In combination, a continuously rotating carrier rotated in a vertical plane and having a plurality of individual radially mounted container holding members capable of movement with respect to the carrier, means for causing the holding members to travel in a substantially horizontal and non-radial direction for a substantial distance beyond a vertical line passing through the center of said carrier, said holding members moving at a predetermined ,rate of speed during a portion of the rotation of said carrier and at a reduced speed during such horizontal and nonradial movement, a supply conveyer, and a transfer device comprising a rotary member having a plurality of extended pusher fingers, said fingers operating to position a container on a horizontally moving holding member at a point spaced a substantial distance beyond said vertical line, and means for retracting said fingers after the container has been moved into a' predetermined position with respect to the holding member.

veyer, and a transfer device comprising a rotary member having a plurality of extended pusher fingers, said fingers operating to position a container on a horizontally moving holding member at a point spaced a substantial distance beyond said vertical line, and means for retracting said fingers after the container has been moved into a predetermined position with respect to the holding member.

4. In combination, a continuously rotating carrier rotated in a vertical plane and having a plurality of individual radially mounted container holding members capable of movement with respect to the carrier, means for causing said holding members to travel in a substantially horizontal'direction and in a straight line for a substantial distance beyond a vertical line passing through the center of said carrier, a supply conveyer, and means for transferring successive containers from said supply conveyer to said holding members during such horizontal straight line movement.

ARTHUR CLARENCE EVERETT. 

